With the recent deaths of Ed McMahon, Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson, eBay® has been cluttered with domain name squatter’s trying to profit from them. So Sad!
Often called "Cyber Squatters" are people who register domain names and try to profit off a trademark or likeness of a company or person. This can include simply selling the domain name or having ads on a site using the domain name.
Cyber Squatters should not be confussed with legit domain name owners that own web properties they have every right to own. This includes mainly generic domain name terms or terms they hold trademarks for themself.
Anybody can do a Free Public Trademark Search using a government run site USPTO.gov. Click Trademarks, Search TM database (#3), New User Form Search (Basic), type in the term and click Submit Query. Doing a search for Michael Jackson, there is a Live Trademark since 1993.
Using public Whois Database records, here are some of the current cyber squatters info, price and domain names they are trying to sell on eBay.com:
~ $50,000 Buy It Now. MichaelJackson
Whois Admin Contact: Robert Hasty, info@hillclimbersforum.com ~ Domain parked at Sedo.com
~ MichaelJacksonPerished.com Item number: 320389516545 Seller User Id: redsoxticketoffice
Whois Admin Contact: Mike B. jgonzo100@yahoo.com
~ $10,000 Buy It Now: MichaelJacksonAshes.com Item number: 390062074492 Seller User Id: ajconsignments07
Whois Admin Contact: Jamal Braich braich77@yahoo.com
~ MichaelJacksonsLastDays.com Item number: 120440484679 Seller User Id: ellenmd1
Whois Admin Contact: Ellen Degregorio homes508@gmail.com
~ MichaelJacksonLivesOnForever.com Item number: 270415916766 Seller User Id: babiesarecute
Whois Admin Contact: Julie Chang julie_chang@hotmail.com
Sadly, I could go on and on with all these people that should Really be ashamed of themselves by registering and trying to sell these domain names! Karma, Karma, Karma….. eBay always seems to turn a blind eye on these listings as well, but they are making Profits from them also. Domain registrars need to tighten up on TM terms as well, as they profit from not only the domain registrations, but the "standard" parking pages if the domian happens to get left on the standard parking pages and gets traffic and clicks.
I know this kind of stuff will never go away, but if YOU consider registering a domain name like this, do not do it! Trying to profit of somebodies death is SICK!
IT
It is indeed very sad. All we can hope for is none of these domains would sell. To most people, there is already a misconception that all domain investors are Cyber Squatters. With this kind of practice, it is even harder to clear the misconception!
Ron
Yes this is very sad…here are a few others that I discovered:
MichaelJacksonDead.com
Creation Date: 2007-05-06
MichaelJacksonDied.com
Creation Date: 2009-06-25
Robbie
These people give us honest domainers a bad name.
When are people going to wake up and realise this isnt how you do business or make money – Its WRONG!
I bet it shall be in the news shortly and then more people will think that domainers are all assholes when its not its just stupid people thinking they can make a quick buck!
viqi
I can not even imagine if there are people stupid enough to buy these kind of domains.
KD
Hello Jamie after I read your blog I went to ebay and there are 304 MJ domain names for sale from 10 million dollars to .99 cent and some are actually getting bids.I mean the .99 cent with no reserve are getting bids.This will be interesting.Have a great weekend,KD
Reece Berg
What really is unbelievable is that some of these Michael Jackson and other celeb domains were registered months and even years ago — it’s like they were just waiting for them to die like a bunch of vultures.
KD
Reece I am sure people have hundreds of names just waiting for someone to kick the bucket.Yesterday we lost a beautiful white woman,oh yea and Farrah Fawcett passed away too.
KD
I am watching the evening news on NBC.There is plenty of mention of people selling t shirts in Harlem, albums for sale on ebay,people selling all kinds of swag and not one mention of domain squatters.Is this good or bad or good and bad.Remember there is a fine line between stupid and clever.Any thoughts?
UDRPtalk
I don’t see what the problem is.
These domains are descriptive of what happened and are fair use. I agree that they are definitely squatting, but not cybersquatting. Let’s not confuse the 2 concepts.
For instance, http://www.DeathOfMichaelJackson.com is doing something productive, albeit a simple page.
If there is a market for these names, so let it be. It’s really no different than the news which capitalizes on celebrities deaths all the time.
Ron
@UDRPtalk
You have a good point that it is a newsworthy item and might be considered as doing something productive to a certain extent…but would it be considered fair use if I went out and registered a name such as: KobeBryantMVP.com? Of course that name might be considered to alot of Lakers fans as a newsworthy item too (if I were a Lakers fan, and I had a nice site built outlining his accomplishments last year…would it be fair use?) but I’m not too sure that the NBA (or Kobe) would appreciate that.
It just have a bad feel to it (morally).
jan
What a load of rubbish, what do you think the media are doing right now and why did you even post about this because you knew that one of the highest type in names in Google would be Michael Jackson . You are doing exactly the same thing by monetizing your traffic from google with just the title of Michael Jackson in your post. You are nothing but a hypocrite.
Jamie Zoch
@jan
If I was trying to make money off of it, I would of had affiliate links for MJ’s music on Amazon, affiliate codes in the eBay links and whatever. Check all the links and there is not a single one with any kind of affiliates in this post, no Google adsense, NOTHING! My title is not deceiving and speaks of what I wrote about explained in the title. Squatter’s registering and trying to profit off of Michael Jackson’s trademarked name! I do not force people to click titles in search engines, twitter or any place and nor am I trying to profit in anyway from it or being deceiving.
jan
@Jamie Zoch
Just by having the Michael Jacksons name on your website means that you will get type in traffic from the search engines which means more eyes on your website. You are using Michaels name just like any other media outlet for your own traffic gains. You are not forcing anybody to click on anything but you know they will. How do you think I found your site? This is the same for people selling Michael merchandise/domains nobody is forcing them to buy it. You kind of people make me laugh with your so called “honest and ethical domainers” We are all out to make money in one way or the other and there is no “fine line” Its called business
Mark A. Baker
Well I am a fan of Michael Jackson.
Some of the domain registration negative conotations definatly should raise a brow. Those sort of people can “Beat it”.
CMG LIVE
I am a professional that was deeply affected by his passing. But i think it would be foolish to believe that the end of his physical life, is not the beginning of his “novelty” life. Elvis is virtually immortal due to the novelty and collectibles industry. I agree the morbid sites are pretty gross. But he is going to be an industry, regardless of how his fans may feel. He will be forbes top earner for years and years to come.
Here are a few domains that are commercial and on ebay for sale:
MICHAEL JACKSON FACEBOOK
MICHAEL JACKSON STREET
MICHAEL JACKSON AVENUE
THRILLER MALL
MICHAEL JACKSON FANZ
MICHAEL JACKSON JAMZ
MJJ MUSEUM ( *bonus .org included)
MJJ TOUR
Mjj AWARDS
MJJ LIFE
SEE MICHAEL DANCE ( .mobi and .us included !!!)
THE JACKSON MINT ( —– THERE WILL CERTAINLY BE A COMMEMORATIVE COIN—– )
********
ALSO INCLUDED:
THE REAL MICHAEL JACKSON (TLD’S – COM/INFO)
PLANET MICHAEL JACKSON ( TLD’S- COM/INFO)
MICHAEL JACKSON TODAY ( TLD- .NET/INFO)
MICHAEL JACKSON MUSEUM ( TLD- .INFO)
Mjj Music ( .tv, .biz, .ORG , .mobi)- ( the .COM,.NET, .INFO ARE CURRENTLY REGISTERED TO SONY MUSIC!!!)
Ron
Here’s a few large “sales” that just happened over the past few days on eBay for Michael Jackson names (very doubtful that the buyer will pay for these):
MichaelJacksonLatestNews.com $14,999.00
MichealJacksonTheLegend.com $2 million
MJsMemorial.com (12 total names) $21 million
DomainSeller
Arn’t you making money blogging this????
Jamie Zoch
@domainseller,
No I am not making money of this post. I have include NO links that are affiliated in this posting.
daniel
wow i understand your points,but why stop there…every florist,cemetary,pastor,limo company,tv. station,should not make a profit on someones death……if your going to blame some try blaming the individuals buying them,this is a free market economy…p.s.you should accept the blame also if you honestly think that way,im sure you heard the news from some source and that source made profits on comercials,so you contributed…how do you like those apples!
MJ fan also
@ domain seller and Jamie- Jamie, I hate to say you are making money. First of all, any one who has a website and includes Michael Jackson’s name, knows they will get traffic. So when doing a search, your site comes up. Then, as people are commenting or reading on your site, they notice your advertisers links. They click on it. Bingo. Did you just make money? Bottom line is in todays economy everyone is trying to make money. The high listed prices are a bit funny, but it is a way to make money! That is how we survive in the world, making money. Sad we do it by someones death, but as said above, so do funeral homes, florists, and web sites by posting obits online now and allowing people to make comments. And if you notice, they have advertisers also! Ca-ching! Sometimes people are sorry they didnt think of the idea themselves! And why is everyone complaining about Michaels domain names? Did anyone complain about Farrah’s or Walter Cronkites? Or any other celeb that passed?
CJ
@MJ fan also. Michael Jackson is Trademarked name. Comparing services given in a funeral to domain squatters is straw mans argument. The writer is clearly in a profession which is driven to blog on Domain Names and not Michael Jackson, this is a news source. You may have found this by searching for it using those key words but clearly that is not its intent.
The truth is registering any domain with name Michael Jackson in it is a risky and could be a costly venture. Just wait until the two guys assigned to his estate get organized.
I have two examples which hold water.
(1)The NFL has a live Trademark on the word “Superbowl”, meaning only they can use it or you can use it if you enter a contract with them which means they get residuals every time the name is used.
There is a “clear” and resounding distinction in using a name in “news” and using a name for profitability. Hence we can see news items using words such as Superbowl, Michael Jackson, The Rolling Stones and so on, that is reporting.
(2)Using an image of Grumpy by Walt Disney as a mascot for a bar is a welcome ticket to litigation.
Somethings will not get much attention, such as selling memorabilia and using a picture of Michael to sell it that is “not” incorporated into the merchandise. That is a difference between ownership and right of sale. All though these instances are technically persuadable.
Someone who targets a trade name or trade dress with the motive of making money off of the name or look is just asking to be bent over. This has happened many times before and Trademark violations carry heavy, heavy fines. Many bars in the 80′s who used the word “Superbowl Party” found out the hard way and were out of business in 6 months. Legal fee’s, fines etc.
No one with a brain is jealous over this, it is fairly tragic that the thought should cross someones mind. Its even more tragic that common sense can go out the door to make a quick buck.
Ron W.
Also, here’s good reason not to use a perosn’s name (NBA player wins name and judgement):
http://www.elliotsblog.com/nba-player-gets-domain-cash-judgment
Michael
One thing is for sure the guy has left a massive legacy that will prosper forever….wait for Michael Jackson’s unreleased projects!will this be archived material that the great MJ deemed unworthy of general release? you be the judge
Adam James
The disrespectful domains will take care of themselves. The Jacksn legacy will live on in the form of historical memorablia, museums, and his music. There will be a great deal of business that develops around this. The Neverland California area is going to see some great growth. And possibly Las Vegas if the site is moved. Most likely it will stay where it is though. Gary Indiana will see some development as well.
The wise domainers are buying up domain names related to non-trademarked concepts around Jackson. These will develop into tourism support businesses like hotels, restaurants, etc.
The neverland area will be a big attraction in coming years. Graceland is the prime example. These things can be done without the disrespect some of the domain names reflect. Some of the domains are also short termers like MichaelJacksonIsDead.com or MichaelJacksonnews.com. These will lose their luster when the news is done.
Domains like neverlandarea.com, neverlandca.com, thrillermansion.com, moonwalkcafe.com, billiejeans.com, maybe even Jackos.com, etc will have lasting value for profitable businesses or even for tourism bureaus in the area. The smart money would be buying these domains up now in preparation for the development.
Dan
Yes, the media has certainly made millions if not billions off reporting anything about Jackson since his death. They report it, because people WANT TO KNOW. They are giving the people what they want, and being rewarded. If people want tribute merchandise, domains names, or whatever, why not give them what they want and make a few bucks? The guy is dead, and certainly not hurting for money. I suppose his family and the big music company are experiencing extreme pain and suffering due to losing perhaps a few million out of 10′s or 100′s of millions. By the way, yes, I tried selling t shirts on ebay, and had them removed for trademark violation. I am just trying to take care of my family, and barely sold any of them anyway. Fuck them.